East Carolina University
UCF
Frey's Last-Minute Goal Downs UCF, 1-0
October 01, 2015 | Soccer
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - Senior forward Kendall Frey capped her historical night by scoring the game-winning goal with 31 seconds remaining in regulation as the East Carolina women's soccer team slipped past UCF, 1-0, in American Athletic Conference action at Johnson Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.
Frey's goal was the 20th of her career and 12th game-winner, while the two points increased her career total to 48, moving her into a tie for fifth place with Kelly Gray (1998-2000) on the program's all-time scoring list.
Senior goalkeeper Saundra Baron made six saves to preserve her conference-leading seventh shutout of the year and number 19.5 for her career. The seven scoreless outings also put her in a tie with Amy Horton (1999) and Amber Campbell (2006) for the fourth most in a single season in school history.
"It was crazy how the momentum changed in this game," Head Coach Rob Donnenwirth said. "At times, I felt like we were able to lock them in a little bit. In the last 10 minutes, they were all over us, but Saundra came up big and that's what she does when it matters."
East Carolina (7-5-1, 2-1-0 AAC) was forced into a defensive stance for the majority of the first 30 minutes of action, but got its first shot on goal in the 19th minute when Frey ripped an attempt from approximately 20 yards out, but it was corralled by Knights goalkeeper Vera Varis.
The Pirates' midfield and back line remained stout for the duration of the period and were able to put together several good scoring chances, but UCF (6-4-1, 1-2-0 AAC) was able to keep ECU off the scoreboard as the match went into halftime with no score.
The Knights held a 6-3 advantage in total shots in the first half, and a 1-0 edge in corner kicks while both clubs took two shots on goal.
Just five minutes into the second half, East Carolina got right into attack mode with perhaps its best scoring opportunity of the match when Lana Spitler took a perfectly-timed through pass from Frey and shot a one-timer directly into a sliding, oncoming Varis, who blocked the shot with her hands, as the deflection was cleared out by UCF's back line.
ECU earned its first corner kick of the match in the 62nd minute, but the Knights were able to block a shot attempt and then clear the threat.
UCF turned up the pressure inside the final 10 minutes of regulation, as forward Hannah DeBose hammered a shot in the 81st minute, but Baron made a diving save to her left to save the day. The Knights remained relentless in their pursuit of a go-ahead goal, forcing Baron to make another diving stop in the 85th minute.
With the tempo of the game at its highest, the Pirates were able to break that pressure and get on an attack of their own in the 87th minute and drew a foul just outside the goal box and approximately eight yards from the far sideline for a set-piece opportunity. Spitler took the free kick and lofted a cross into the box where Frey pushed a header forward to junior midfielder Jenna Geist who headed the ball again and into the net, but the goal was called back for offsides.
UCF responded immediately with no time to waste and drew a foul just outside East Carolina's goal box with 90 seconds remaining. Striker Ashley Spivey took the free kick from 19 yards, but it was blocked by a wall of ECU defenders, creating one last counter attack for the home team.
The Pirates responded when sophomore midfielder Danielle Eule took three touches from the near sideline to the middle of the field before sending a pass ahead to Frey who was in a full spring. She took the feed near the mid-field line and raced ahead approximately 50 yards, before drilling a shot from approximately 25 yards out on the far side of the goal box, out of the reach of Varis and into the left corner of the net to give her team the goal it needed with 31 ticks left on the game clock.
"One thing I told Kendall is that, at times, when she's dribbling on a counter, she was knocking it off or giving up the ball," Donnenwirth said. "I told her defenders are usually backpedalling and she saw that tonight and hit an amazing shot to win the game."
The Knights outshot the Pirates, 16-10, overall in the match and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Varis finished the evening with four saves in goal.
East Carolina will remain home to host 18th-ranked USF on Sunday, Oct. 4. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., at Johnson Soccer Stadium.
